A former student, who works in a high-pressure job, once told me how she would execute a balancing yoga posture whenever she was feeling stressed. This could even be in the middle of a meeting or a brainstorming session. Initially, she would get laughed at by the people around her, but she continued nevertheless, found that she was able to calm her racing mind and make decisions that were clear, appropriate and wise.
On a physiological level, balancing postures engage both hemispheres of the brain and help stabilise the parasympathetic and sympathetic parts of the nervous system. This leads to a cascade of events within the mind-body complex, including the firing of certain synapses in the brain, the secretion of several hormones and a feeling of peace and calm even amidst the most turbulent of external stimuli. I can best describe it like the slow-motion action sequences that we see in movies, where the hero calmly anticipates his opponents’ next move and acts appropriately, instead of swinging punches wildly.
The posture in the image, Garudasana, looks quite complicated, but is simple enough for you to practise everyday. While you don’t need to be attempting this posture in the middle of a meeting, unless you are inspired to, regular practice helps you cultivate grace under pressure.
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Stand with your feet together. For beginners, this is best done on the floor for optimum balance.
Bring your arms out sideways and at shoulder level to help you balance as you move into the next step.
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Keep your gaze fixed on a point in front of you.
Bend your left knee lightly and wrap your right leg around it. The toes of your right foot should be pressed against the left calf muscle.
Your ankle will jerk around as the body learns to balance itself and find a new centre of gravity. Keep trying this over and over till you are able to hold the posture with some amount of stability.
Bring your elbows and palms together and place your thumbs just in front of your nose. Breathe normally and hold the pose for 8-10 counts.
Advanced: Wrap your right forearm around the left arm and let the palms touch. Now place your thumbs on your nose.